I did not stay long for the meeting, and in fact, moved certain items up so I could vote on them. My dog was undergoing surgery during the meeting. As it turned out, I was happy not to attend the entire meeting; too many are already posturing for the 2009 election. The meeting was one of high contention, and I suspect, will continue to be.

The BDC put a five year agreement on the floor. Earlier in the day, the BDC Director requested that the item be pulled. It was not. The 1st Ward Alderperson just had to vote on it; a very week contract. The contract was passed and will be in effect until May 1, 2009, coincidentally, right after the next election. I voted for deferral and was joined by the 2nd and 8th Ward Alderperson to simply defer the contract until the next meeting. The contract passed by a vote of 4 to 3.

Next, was the 2008 TIF budget which stems from the BDC. Also, earlier in the day, the BDC Director emailed everyone to not vote on this, but to delay it for two weeks. You know who decided we should vote on it, but the Mayor pulled the ole Rule 28 to simply defer the matter for two weeks.

Roosevelt Road will be getting an underground face lift in the coming year or two, coordinated with Oak Park and Cicero from Harlem to Austin.

I asked that a zoning variation request be brought forward before I left. This passed by a vote of 6 to 1, with the resident Alderman, the 6th, voting against it. A person was putting on a second floor and this variation had passed the Zoning Board of Appeals by a large majority.

Next, I brought forward an ordinance that makes the City Clerk the official Freedom of Information Officer. You may have read in the local newspaper about all the drama at City Hall caused by Freedom of Information Requests.

Finally, the last thing I brought forward before going home is a ridiculous ordinance put forward by the 6th Ward Alderperson. I had a long ramble that I edited out to be somewhat professional. Bottom line, the Mayor has opted to veto the ordinance, but I am not sure if there are enough votes to back the Mayor's veto. Only the 2nd Ward Alderperson voted with me.

That is all. My dog, who was on death's door, is doing pretty well considering. Stay tuned to the same bat channel, same bat time.

Next City Council meeting is Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at City Hall at 8:00 pm.

Carl Reina, chairman of Berwyn's centennial celebration, will discuss plans for the 2008 festivities at the 7 pm Thursday, November 16, meeting of the All Berwyn Committee to be held in Berwyn City Hall, 6700 W. 26th St.

"We believe all residents will want to learn more about this once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase our community," said ABC President Susan Anderson. "This yearlong event can draw our people together as we celebrate Berwyn's accomplishments over the past 100 years."

Reina is expected to detail the work of the core volunteer committee and some 14 subcommittees in planning events ranging from all-city parades to individual ward festivities, historic tours to carnival rides and beer gardens to dinner dancing.

Anderson said the program, which is free and open to the public, is characteristic of the ABC's 60 plus years of service as a non-partisan, non-sectarian community forum.

The 2nd annual BerwynCARES Kids Concert will be on Saturday, November 10th, 2007 at 3:00 pm at Fitzgerald's Nightclub. Tickets are only $5!! This year's lineup includes the Boogers, and Mr. Matt and Joe the Show, all Berwyn residents, with years of experience in the music industry.

We are thrilled to hear these serious rockers perform some classic kids' favorites. The kids will be rockin' ...and so will YOU!!

You can purchase tickets online at www.BerwynCARES.org or you can go to Over the Rainbow Ice Cream Shop (6836 Windsor, Berwyn). After the show, there will be some family-friendly appetizer specials provided by Wishbone at The Sidebar.

I urge you and your children, or just you, to attend. The money will all go back to Berwyn, specifically, to teachers' grants at the Berwyn schools.

The 2nd annual BerwynCARES Kids Concert will be on Saturday, November 10th at 3:00 pm at Fitzgerald's Nightclub. Tickets are only $5!! This year's lineup includes the Boogers, and Mr. Matt and Joe the Show, all Berwyn residents, with years of experience in the music industry.

We are thrilled to hear these serious rockers perform some classic kids' favorites. The kids will be rockin' ...and so will YOU!!

You can purchase tickets online at www.BerwynCARES.org or you can go to Over the Rainbow Ice Cream Shop (6836 Windsor, Berwyn). After the show, there will be some family-friendly appetizer specials provided by Wishbone at The Sidebar.

I urge you and your children, or just you, to attend. The money will all go back to Berwyn, specifically, to teachers' grants at the Berwyn schools.